His father, a herder from Buryatia who had come to Mongolia a few years previous, was killed during the repressions of the late 1930s.
Erdene graduated from the School of Military Officers, Ulaanbaatar in 1949 and the Mongolian State University in 1955.
Among his most notable works are "Amidralyn Toirog", "Bayan Burd" (Oasis), "Zanabazar", "Malyn Kholiin Toos" (Dust Raised by Livestock), "Naran Togoruu" (Sun Cranes) and "Khoit Nasandaa Uchirna".
One of his sons is Erdeniin Bat-Üül, a prominent politician from Mongolia's Democratic party.
Renate Bauwe: Leben und Werk des mongolischen Schriftstellers Sengijn Erdene (in German)